Predicted antigenic regions of Streptococcus uberis adhesion molecule (SUAM) are involved in adherence to and internalization into mammary epithelial cells.

Streptococcus uberis is a significant cause of bovine mastitis throughout the world. Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that S. uberis adhesion molecule (SUAM) is an important factor in adherence to and internalization of S. uberis into bovine mammary epithelial cells. Antibodies directed against SUAM significantly reduced bacterial adherence to and internalization into bovine mammary epithelial cells implying that SUAM is surface exposed. Objectives of this research were to: (1) predict surface exposed peptides, and (2) select peptide sequences for production of synthetic peptides with the final aim of evaluating their role in adherence and internalization and immunogenic potential. The Kyte/Doolittle hydropathicity prediction method; Chou/Fasman β-turn prediction method; and output from Coils, Paircoil and MultiCoil scores for prediction of secondary and tertiary structures were used. Prediction algorithms resulted in identification of five overlapping regions of the SUAM sequence with the most hydrophilic valleys and the highest peaks for β-turns. The five 15-mer SUAM epitopes selected by bioinformatic analysis were produced to evaluate the immunogenic value and pathogenic role of these putative domains. Peptides were bound to fluorescent latex beads, incubated with MAC-T bovine mammary epithelial cells, and internalization into MAC-T cells was evaluated using confocal laser and transmission electron microscopy. All peptides evaluated induced some degree of internalization of fluorescent beads into MAC-T cells; however, 2 peptides induced significantly more internalization of fluorescent beads than the other peptides evaluated. These peptides, designated III and IV, were located in the central region of SUAM, between two coiled-coil regions. Convalescent sera were tested against these biotinylated peptides for SUAM specific immune response using an indirect ELISA format. Among the 5 peptides evaluated, peptides I, II and V elicited significant serological response suggesting that the N-terminal region (peptide I), central region (peptide II) and C-terminal region (peptide V) are immunodominant epitopes of SUAM. Results will be useful to design immunotherapeutic tools based on immunodominant epitopes.